Mop having a holder with clamping jaws

ABSTRACT

A mop holder for holding a mop head and a mop handle, the mop holder comprising a one-piece construction of a rod shaped to provide a first pair of clamping arms and a second pair of clamping arms moveable between an open position thereof and a clamping position thereof. A lever is pivotally connected to the first pair of clamping arms and is shiftable between an unlatched position thereof and a latched position thereof to move the pairs of clamping arms from the open position thereof wherein a mop may be inserted therebetween to the clamping position thereof wherein the mop head is firmly clamped therebetween. A casting may be provided for holding the mop handle, the casting being connected to a pair of third clamping arms extending from the one-piece construction, and a sleeve may be provided surrounding the casting and the pair of third clamping arms firmly to hold the mop handle within the one-piece construction.

UniteStates Patent Saltzstein [54] MOP HAVING A HOLDER WITH CLAMPINGJAWS [72] Inventor: Julian I.

Tenn.

Saltzstein, Cleveland,

[73] Assignee: American Uniform Company,

Cleveland, Tenn.

[22] Filed: June 7, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 150,296

[52] U.S. Cl ..15/229 A, 15/150, 223/96 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47l 13/252 [58]Field of Search ..15/115, 147 R, 147 C, 148,

[ Sept. 5, 1972 Primary Examiner-Daniel Blum Att0rneyPrangley, Clayton,Mullin, Dithmar & Vogel 5 7 ABSTRACT A mop holder for holding a mop headand a mop handle, the mop holder comprising a one-piece construction ofa rod shaped to provide a first pair of clamping arms and a second pairof clamping arms moveable between an open position thereof and aclamping position thereof. A lever is pivotally connected to the firstpair of clamping arms and is shiftable between an unlatched positionthereof and a latched position thereof to move the pairs of clampingarms from the open position thereof wherein a mop may be insertedtherebetween to the clamping position thereof wherein the mop head isfirmly clamped therebetween. A casting may be provided for holding themop handle, the casting being connected to a pair of third clamping armsextending from the one-piece construction, and a sleeve may be providedsurrounding the casting and the pair of third clamping arms fimily tohold the mop handle within the one-piece construction.

19 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures M? HAVING A HOLDER WITH CLAMPING JAWS Thisinvention is directed to a mop holder for use with a mop head, andparticularly to a mop holder including a one-piece construction shapedto provide first and second pairs of clamping arms.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a mopholder comprising a one-piece construction of a rod shaped to provide apair of first spacedapart longitudinally clamping arms joined by a firstU- shaped connection at one end thereof and a pair of secondspaced-apart longitudinally extending clamping arms, each of the firstlongitudinally extending clamping arms having at the other end thereof asecond U- shaped connection integral with one end of one of the secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms, the pair of secondlongitudinally extending arms extending in the same general directionfrom the second U- shaped connection as the pair of first longitudinallyextending clamping arms, the one-piece construction being resilient andaccommodating movement of the pairs of first and second longitudinallyextending clamping arms between an open position thereof wherein thefirst U-shaped connection is disposed away from the other end of thesecond longitudinally extending arms and a clamping position thereofwherein the first U-shaped connection is disposed toward the other endof the second longitudinally extending arms, the pairs of first andsecond longitudinally extending clamping arms in the open positionthereof easily accommodating placement of a mop head therebetween so asto position the pair of first clamping arms on one side of the mop headand the pair of second clamping arms on the other side of the mop head,a lever pivotally connected to the first U-shaped connection on the pairof first clamping arms and pivotable between a latched position thereofand an unlatched position thereof, and a latch on the other ends of thepair of second longitudinally extending clamping arms and cooperatingwith the lever to maintain the lever in the latched position thereof,whereby movement of the lever from the unlatched position thereof to thelatched position thereof provides movement of the pair of spaced-apartfirst longitudinally extending clamping arms and the pair ofspaced-apart second longitudinally extending clamping arms between theopen position thereof and the clamping position thereof firmly to clampthe mop head displaced therebetween.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved mopholder of the type set forth in which the one-piece constructionincludes pair of resilient third spaced-apart longitudinally extendingclamping arms and accommodating movement between an open positionthereof wherein the ends of the pair of third longitudinally extendingclamping arms away from the third U-shaped connections are spaced apartand a closed position thereof wherein the pair of third longitudinallyextending clamping arms are disposed toward one another, the pair ofthird longitudinally extending clamping arms in the open positionthereof easily accommodating placement of a mop handle therebetween andin the closed position thereof firmly holding the mop handletherebetween in a position substantially normal to the pairs of firstand second longitudinally extending clamping arms.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a mop holderof the type set forth in which a plurality of support bars are providedextending transversely of the pair of the second longitudinallyextending clamping arms and connecting the same with one of the supportbars interconnecting the pair of second longitudinally extendingclamping arms at the other ends thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a combination ofa mop holder of the type set forth and a mop head in which the mop headhas a web in the center thereof adapted to fir between the lever and thesecond U-shaped connection and adapted firmly to be clamped between thepair of first longitudinally extending clamping arms and the pair ofsecond longitudinally extending clamping arms.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be understoodby reference to the following specification taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view partly in section of the mop holder ofthe present invention having a mop handle connected thereto and a mopdisposed between the pairs of first and second longitudinally extendingarms thereof, and showing the arms in the open position thereof and thelever in the unlatched position thereof;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the right-hand portion of FIG. 1showing the lever in the latched position thereof and the pairs of firstand second clamping arms in the clamping position thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the mop handle holding mechanismillustrated in FIG. 1 taken along line 33 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the mop handle holding mechanismillustrated in FIG. 3 taken along line 44 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the mop head and mop holder of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the mop head illustrated in FIG. 5 takenalong line 66 thereof;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the mop head and mop holder of the presentinvention illustrated in FIG. 5 taken along line 77 thereof;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of another embodiment of the mop holderof the present invention showing the pairs of first and second clampingarms in the clamping position thereof and the lever in the latchedposition thereof;

FIG. 9 is a bottom elevational view of the embodiment of the mop holderof the present invention illustrated in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the mop holder illustrated in FIG.8 showing in full line the pairs of first and second clamping arms inthe open position thereof and the lever in the unlatched positionthereof and in phantom line the pairs of first and second clamping armsin the clamping position thereof and the lever in the latched positionthereof; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the mop holder illustrated in FIG. 8taken along line lll 1 thereof.

The mop holder of the present invention includes a one-piececonstruction shaped to provide a pair of first clamping arms 1 10, apair of second clamping arms and a pair of third clamping arms 123, thepair of third clamping arms 123 have upstanding ends 127 adapted to holda mop handle 150 therebetween. A casting 155 and a sleeve 170 may beprovided firmly to connect the mop handle 150 to the mop holder 100. Aspecial mop head 180 is adapted securely to fit between the pair offirst clamping arms 110 and the pair of second clamping arms 120.

With reference to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4thereof, there is shown the mop holder 100 of the present inventionincluding a onepiece construction of a rod shaped to provide the pair offirst spaced-apart longitudinally extending clamping arms 110, each ofthe arms 110 being in the shape of a rod 111 and connected at one endthereof by a first U- shaped connection 113, see the right-hand end ofFIG. 1. The rods 111 lie in substantially the same horizontal plane,although the rods 111 are curved somewhat. At the other end of the pairof first clamping arms 110, each of the arms 111 is formed into a secondU-shaped connection 115 each of which leads to a rod 121 of the pair ofsecond spaced-apart longitudinally extending clamping arms 120. Each ofthe rods 111 and the corresponding rod 121 lie in substantially the samevertical plane, while the rods 121 lie in substantially the samehorizontal plane. As may be seen, the pair of second longitudinallyextending clamping arms 120 extends in the same direction from thesecond U-shaped connections 115 as do the pair of first longitudinallyextending clamping arms 110.

Each of the rods 121 of the pair of second clamping arms 121) extendsfrom the second U-shaped connection 115 to a third U-shaped connection124 integrally connecting the pair of second longitudinally extendingclamping arms 120 with the pair of third clamping arms 123. The pair ofthird clamping arms 123 includes a pair of spaced-apart rods a portion125 of which extend parallel to the plane formed by the rods 121 of thepair of second longitudinally extending clamping arms 120 and a portion127 of which extend perpendicularly to the plane formed by the rods 121.The rods 125 and the rods 127 are each connected respectively by elbowconnections 126. The rods 125 extending from the third U-shapedconnections 124 to the elbow connections 126 lie in substantially thesame horizontal plane. Each of the rods 125 lies in substantially thesame vertical plane as the respective ones of rods 111 and rods 121.

The upstanding rods 127 of the pair of third clamping arms 123 eachcarry a stud 128 on the inside thereof for a reason hereinafter setforth. Each of the upstanding rods 127 of the pair of third clampingarms 123 diverges outwardly from the elbows 126 also for a purposehereinafter to be disclosed.

Finally, the pair of second clamping arms 120 is provided with aplurality of support bars 129 extending transversely of the rods 121 andbeing longitudinally spaced apart and securely fastened to each of therods 121 such as by welding. A sinuously shaped support bar 129a islocated at the right-hand end of the rods 121 of the pair of secondclamping arms 120 (as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2) and acts as a fulcrum for apurpose hereinafter set forth.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 5, there is seen a lever 130having a pivot loop 131 positioned around the first U-shaped connection113 interconnecting the rods 111 of the pair of first clamping arms 110.Extending from the pivot loop 131 of the lever is a short arm 132 and along arm 135 connected thereto as at notch 134, the long arm 135 formingan acute angle with the short arm 132. The long arm 135 has a bearingportion 136 and an offset portion 137 and a latching portion 138, allfor a purpose hereinafter to be explained. The lever 130 is formed intoa handle 140 at the end thereof away from the pivot loop 131. Attachedto the rods 125 of the pair of third clamping arms 123 is a latch memberhaving a portion thereof 146 raised above the plane formed by the rods125, the portion 146 being for engaging the latching portion 138 of thelever 130 in a manner hereinafter to be explained. The latch member 145fixedly is secured to the rods 125 of the pair of third clamping arms123 as by welding.

As seen, therefore, the rods 11 of the pair of first clamping arms 110,the rods 121 of the pair of second clamping arms 120, and the rods 125and upstanding rods 127 of the pair of third arms 123 all form aonepiece construction, with at least the pair of first clamping arms 110 and the rods 127 of the pair of third arms 123 being resilient.

As seen particularly in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the mop handle 150 ispositioned within the casting 155, which casting is cylindrical in shapewith downwardly extending portions 159, each of which has a slot 156therein to receive a respective one of the upstanding rods 127 of thepair of third arms 123. The casting 155 further includes two apertures157, one each being formed within each of the slots 156. Each of theapertures 157 receive therein one of the studs 128 extending inwardlyfrom the upstanding rods 127 of the pair of third arms 123.

The casting .155 has a central aperture 158 at the bottom thereofextending through a seat 161 of the casting 155 for receiving the bottomof the mop handle 150, the aperture 158 providing communication betweenthe seat 161 of the casting 155 and the area between the downwardlyextending portions 159 carrying therein the slots 156. A screw 165 isadapted to fit within the aperture 158 and to be screwed into the seatedend of the mop handle 150 thereby fixedly to secure the mop handle 150within the casting 155. The tubular sleeve fits over the upstanding rods127 of the pair of third arms 123 and the casting 155 securely toposition the upstanding rods 127 within the slots 156 of the casting155. The sleeve 170 has opposed bosses 171 therein to accommodate theupstanding rods 127 of the pair of third arms 123, all as best seen inFIG. 4.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, there is illustrated the mop head ofthe present invention, which mop head 180 includes a web having twoopposed cutouts 186, the cut-outs 186 resulting in the web 185 fittingsnugly between the second U-shaped connections 115 at one end of thepair of first clamping arms 110 and the notch 134 of the lever 130pivotally connected to the first U-shaped connection 113. As best seenin FIG. 6, the web 185 is a single sheet of material joined as at 188 bydouble stitching to provide for additional strength, the web 185 alsohaving stitching 187 around each of the cut-outs 186 and doublestitching 191 where the shag is joined to the web 185. Referring to FIG.7 it is seen that a central portion of the web 185 formed by thelongitudinal seams 192 is of reduced thickness to provide for easierclamping between the pair of first clamping arms 110 and the pair ofsecond clamping arms 120. The mop head 180 has a puffed portion 195outwardly of the central portion defined by the seams 192 and a gatheredsection 196 at the outermost ends of theweb 185 to provide for moresecure locking of the shag 190 within the web 185.

Operation of the mop holder 100 will now be explained. Referring now toFIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 the mop holder100 of the present invention in which the pair of first clamping arms 1and the pair of second clamping arms 120 are in the open positionthereof so as to accommodate therebetween the mop head 180. When the mophead 18!) is in position, as shown in FIG. 5, the lever 130 is movedfrom its unlatched position as shown in FIG. 1 in the direction of thearrow 199 to its latched position as shown in FIG. 2, thereby moving thepair of first clamping arms 111) and the pair of second clamping arms120 to the clamping position thereof firmly to clamp the mop head 18%therebetween.

As the lever 130 is moved from its unlatched position (FIG. 1) to itslatched position (FIG. 2), the bearing surface 136 thereof bears againstthe right-handmost support bar 129a which acts as a fulcrum for thelever 1311. As the lever 130 is advanced to the left as shown in FIG. 1,the mechanical advantage of the lever 130 is increased due to therelative lengths of the long arm 135 and the short arm 132. When thelever 130 reaches its latched position, the offset portion 138 isshifted sideways to fit under the raised portion 146 of the latch 145,thereby to maintain the lever 130 in its latched position. When thelever 130 is in the latched position thereof and the pairs of first andsecond clamping arms 116 and 120 are in the clamping position thereof,the mop head 180 is held firmly therebetween, the convex shape of thepair of first clamping arms 110 maintaining the mop holder 101) awayfrom the floor surface on which the mop head 180 will rest in the useposition thereof.

As seen particularly in FIG. 7, the spaced apart rods 111 of the pair offirst clamping arms 110 and the spaced apart rods 121 of the pair ofsecond clamping arms 1211 provide spaced apart lines of support for theweb 185 of the mop head 180 in order securely to position the mop head180 within the mop holder 100. Additionally, the mop handle 150 ispositioned within the casting 155 and the sleeve 170, as hereinbeforeexplained, thereby to provide a useful combination of the mop handle151), the mop holder 100 and the mop head 1811.

A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 8 to 11of the drawings in which like reference numerals in the 200 series havebeen applied to like parts of the mop holder 100 previously discussed.As disclosed in FIG. 8 of the drawings there is shown a mop holder 200including a one-piece construction shaped to provide a pair of firstclamping arms 210 which is formed of two spaced apart rods 21 1interconnected by a first U-shaped connection 213, see theright-handmost portion of FIG. 9, and at the other end of the pair offirst clamping arms 210, each of the rods 211 is provided with a secondU-shaped connection 215 leading to one of a pair of second clamping arms220. The pair of second clamping arms 220 is formed of two spaced apartrods, each of which extends from one of the second U-shaped connections215 to a pair of third arms 223 interconnected with the pair of secondarms 220 by means of two third-shaped connections 224, one in each ofthe rods 221.

The pair of third arms 223 is formed of two spaced apart rods 225, eachof which extends in an outwardly diverging direction from the thirdU-shaped connections 224 to an elbow bend 226 in each of the rods 225.The elbow bend 226 in each of the rods 225 connect an outwardlyextending and upstanding rod 227 to each of the rods 225 of the pair ofthird arms 223. Each of the upstanding rods 227 of the pair of thirdarms 223 has a stud (not shown) to cooperate with a mop handle 250 andcasting 255 shown in phantom in FIG. 8. The pair of second clamping arms220 is provided with a plurality of support bars 229 extendingtransversely of the rods and being securely fastened thereto such as bywelding, the right-handmost support bar 229a, as seen in FIG. 8, actingas a fulcrum for a lever 230 as hereinafter explained.

The lever 230 is provided at one end thereof with a pivot loop 231 whichextends around the first U-shaped connection connecting the pair offirst clamping arms 210. The lever 230 further includes a short arm 232and a long arm 235 interconnected by a notch portion 234. The long arm235 has a bearing portion 238 thereon and terminates in a loop-shapedhandle 240 at the other end of the lever from the pivot loop 231. Asseen, therefore, the rods 211 of the pair of first clamping arms 210,and the rods 225 and upstanding rods 227 of the pair of third arms 223all form a one-piece construction with at least the pair of firstclamping arms 210 and the rods 227 of the pair of third arms 223 beingresilient.

Operation of the mop holder 200 is similar to operation of the mopholder except that the notch 234 in the lever arm 230 is more pronouncedso as to provide for retention of the lever 230 in the latched positionthereof, as shown in phantom in FIG. 10, without the need of the latchshown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 10, there is illustrated the lever 230 in theunlatched position thereof (full line) and the lever 230 in the latchedposition thereof (phantom line) to correspond with the pairs of firstand second clamping arms 210 and 220 in the open position thereof (fullline) and in the clamping position thereof (phantom line). The lever 230is moved from its unlatched position its latched position in the samemanner as is lever 130, the lever 230 also providing increasingmechanical advantage as it is moved to the left in FIG. 10. The bearingsurface 238 bears against the fulcrum 229a so as to move the pairs ofclamping arms 210 and 220 from the open position thereof to the clampingposition thereof while providing increased mechanical advantage andeasier movement of the lever 230.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided animproved mop holder and combination of the mop holder and mop head foruse with an associated mop handle, the mop holder having a onepiececonstruction shaped to provide a pair of first clamping arms and a pairof second clamping arms integrally connected and a lever pivotallyconnected to the pair of first clamping arms and shiftable between anunlatched position thereof and a latched position thereof to providemovement of the pair of first clamping arms and the pair of secondclamping arms between the open position thereof and the clampingposition thereof.

While there has been described what at present is considered to be thepreferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood thatvarious modifications may be made therein and it is intended to cover inthe appended claims all such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

i. A mop holder comprising a one-piece construction of a rod shaped toprovide a pair of first spacedapart longitudinally extending clampingarms joined by a first U-shaped connection at one end thereof and a pairof second spaced-apart longitudinally extending clamping arms, each ofsaid first longitudinally extending clamping arms having at the otherend thereof a second U-shaped connection integral with one end of onesaid second longitudinally extending clamping arms, said pair of secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms extending in the same generaldirection from said second U-shaped connections as said pair of firstlongitudinally extending clamping arms, said onepiece construction beingresilient and accommodating movement of said pairs of first and secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms between an open position thereofwherein said first U-shaped connection is disposed away from the otherends of said second longitudinally extending arms and a clampingposition thereof wherein said first U-shaped connection is disposedtoward the other ends of said second longitudinally extending arms, saidpairs of first and second longitudinally extending clamping arms in theopen position thereof easily accommodating placement of a mop headtherebetween so as to position said pair of first clamping arms on oneside of the mop head and said pair of second clamping arms on the otherside of the mop head, a lever pivotally connected to said first U-shapedconnection on said pair of first clamping arms and pivotable between alatched position thereof, and an unlatched position thereof, and a latchon said other ends of said pair of second longitudinally extendingclamping arms and cooperating with said lever to maintain said lever inthe latched position thereof, whereby movement of said lever from theunlatched position thereof to the latched position thereof providesmovement of said pair of spaced-apart first longitudinally extendingclamping arms and said pair of spaced-apart second longitudinallyextending clamping arms between the open position thereof and theclamping position thereof firmly to clamp the mop head disposedtherebetween.

2. The mop holder set forth in claim 1, wherein said first U-shapedconnection joining said pair of first clamping arms is spaced from saidother ends of said pair of second clamping arms a distance farther thansaid other end of said pair of first clamping arms is spaced from saidone end of said pair of second clamping arms when said pairs of firstand second longitudinally extending clamping arms are in the openposition thereof.

3. The mop holder set forth in claim 1, wherein said pair of secondclamping arms have means connected thereto for bearing against saidlever during movement of said lever from the unlatched position to thelatched position thereof.

4. The mop holder set forth in claim 1, wherein said lever includes ashort arm pivotally connected to said first U-shaped connection and along arm extending from said short arm, said long arm providing forincreased mechanical advantage for said lever as said lever is movedfrom the unlatched position thereof to the latched position thereof.

5. The mop holder set forth in claim 1, wherein said lever includes anotch therein for bearing against said latch when said lever is in thelatched position thereof to maintain said latch in the latched positionthereof.

6. The mop holder set forth in claim 1, wherein said lever has a handleattached to the end thereof.

7. The mop holder set forth in claim 1, wherein the end of said leveraway from the pivotal connection to said first U-shaped connection isformed into a U- shaped handle to provide for easy movement of saidlever between the unlatched position thereof and the latched positionthereof.

8. A mop holder comprising, a one-piece construction of a rod shaped toprovide a pair of first spacedapart longitudinally extending clampingarms joined by a first U-shaped connection at one end thereof and a pairof second longitudinally extending spaced-apart clamping arms and a pairof third spaced-apart longitudinally extending clamping arms, each ofsaid first longitudinally extending clamping arms having at the otherend thereof a second U-shaped connection integral with one end of one ofsaid second longitudinally extending clamping arms, said pair of secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms extending in the same generaldirection from said second U-shaped connections as said pair of firstlongitudinally extending clamping arms, each of said secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms having at the other end thereof athird U-shaped connection integral with one end of one of said thirdlongitudinally extending clamping arms, a portion of said pair of thirdlongitudinally extending clamping arms extending in a directionsubstantially normal to said pairs of first and second longitudinallyextending clamping arms, said one-piece construction being resilient andaccommodating movement of said pairs of first and second longitudinallyextending clamping arms between an open position thereof wherein saidfirst U-shaped connection is disposed away from the other ends of saidsecond longitudinally extending arms and a clamping position thereofwherein said first U-shaped connection is disposed toward the other endsof said second longitudinally extending arms, said pairs of first andsecond longitudinally extending clamping arms in the open positionthereof easily accommodating placement of a mop head therebetween so asto position said pair of first clamping arms on one side of the mop headand said pair of second clamping arms on the other side of the mop, saidpair of third longitudinally extending clamping arms being resilient andaccommodating movement between an open position thereof wherein the endsof said pair of third longitudinally extending clamping arms away fromsaid third U-shaped connections are spaced apart and a closed positionthereof wherein said pair of third longitudinally extending clampingarms are disposed toward one another, said pair of third longitudinallyextending clamping arms in the open position thereof easilyaccommodating placement of a mop handle therebetween and in the closedposition thereof firmly holding the mop handle therebetween in aposition substantially normal to said pairs of first and secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms, a lever pivotally connected tosaid first Ushaped connection on said pair of first clamping arms andpivotable between a latched position thereof and an unlatched positionthereof, and a latch on said other ends of said pair of secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms and cooperating with said leverto maintain said lever in the latched position thereof, whereby movementof said lever from the unlatched position thereof to the latchedposition thereof provides movement of said pair of spaced-apart firstlongitudinally extending clamping arms and said pair of spaced-apartsecond longitudinally extending clamping arms between the open positionthereof and the clamping position thereof firmly to clamp the mop headdisposed therebetween.

9. The mop holder set forth in claim 8, wherein said pair of thirdclamping arms diverge outwardly from said third U-shaped connections.

w. The mop holder set forth in claim 8, wherein the portion of said pairof third clamping arms disposed normally to said pairs of first andsecond clamping arms is resilient.

11. The mop holder set forth in claim 8, wherein each of said thirdlongitudinally extending clamping arms extending normally to said pairof said first and second clamping arms carries thereon a stud, said studbeing disposed to cooperate with a casting shaped to support one end ofthe mop handle, said casting having opposed outwardly extending portionseach of said portions having a longitudinal groove therein toaccommodate a respective one of said third longitudinally extendingclamping arms, each of said longitudinally extending grooves having anaperture to accommodate one of said studs and a sleeve having opposedbosses therein to fit over said casting and said pair of thirdlongitudinally extending clamping arms positioned in said grooves, so asfirmly to position the mop handle associated with said sleeve and saidcasting between said pair of third clamping arms in a positionsubstantially normal to said pair of first and second clamping arms,

12. A mop holder comprising a one-piece construction of a rod shaped toprovide a pair of first spacedapart longitudinally extending clampingarms joined by a first U-shaped connection at one end thereof and a pairof second spaced-apart longitudinally extending clamping arms, each ofsaid first longitudinally an clamping arms having at the other endthereof a second U-shaped connection integral with one end of one ofsaid second longitudinally extending clamping arms, said pair of secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms extending in the same generaldirection from said second U-shaped connections as said pair of firstlongitudinally extending clamping arms, a plurality of support barsextending transversely of said pair of said second longitudinallyextending clamping arms and connecting the same with one of said supportbars interconnecting said pair of second longitudinally extendingclamping arms at the other ends thereof, said one-piece constructionbeing resilient and accommodating movement of said pairs of first andsecond longitudinally extending clamping arms between and open positionthereof wherein said first U-shaped connection is disposed away fromsaid other ends of said second longitudinally extending arms and aclamping position thereof wherein said first U-shaped connection isdisposed toward the other ends of said second longitudinally extendingarms, said pairs of first and second longitudinally extending clampingarms in the open position thereof easily accommodating placement of amop head therebetween so as to position said pair of first clamping armson one side of the mop head and said pair of second clamping arms on theother side of the mop, a lever pivotally connected to said first U-shaped connection on said pair of first clamping arms and pivotablebetween a latched position thereof and an unlatched position thereof,and a latch coupled to said other ends of said pair of secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms and cooperating with said leverto maintain said lever in the latched position thereof, whereby movementof said lever from the unlatched position thereof against said supportbar at said other ends of said second longitudinally extending clampingarms to the latched position thereof provides movement of said pair ofspaced-apart first longitudinally extending clamping arms and said pairof spaced-apart second longitudinally extending clamping arms betweenthe open position thereof and the clamping position thereof firmly toclamp the mop head disposed therebetween.

13. The mop holder set forth in claim 12, wherein each of said supportbars is firmly welded to each of said second clamping arms.

14. The mop holder set forth in claim 12, wherein the one of saidsupport bars interconnecting said pair of second longitudinallyextending clamping arms at the other ends thereof acts as a fulcrum forsaid lever during the movement thereof between the unlatched positionthereof and the latched position thereof.

15. The mop holder set forth in claim 12, wherein the one of saidsupport bars interconnecting said pair of second longitudinallyextending clamping arms at the other ends thereof is sinuously shapedand acts as a fulcrum for said lever during the movement thereof betweenthe unlatched position thereof and the latched position thereof.

16. In combination a mop head and a mop holder, said mop holdercomprising, a one-piece construction of a rod shaped to provide a pairof first spaced-apart longitudinally extending clamping arms joined by afirst U-shaped connection at one end thereof and a pair of secondspaced-apart longitudinally extending clamping arms, each of said firstlongitudinally extending clamping arms having at the other end thereof asecond U- shaped connection integral with one end of one of said secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms, said pair of secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms extending in the same generaldirection from said second U-shaped connections as said pair of firstlongitudinally extending clamping arms, said one-piece constructionbeing resilient and accommodating movement of said pairs of first andsecond longitudinally extending clamping arms between an open positionthereof wherein said first U-shaped connection is disposed away from theother ends of said second longitudinally extending arms and a clampingposition thereof wherein said first U-shaped connection is disposedtoward the other ends of said second longitudinally extending arms, saidpairs of first and second longitudinally extending clamping arms in theopen position thereof easily accommodating placement of said mop headtherebetween so as to position said pair of first clamping arms on oneside of the mop head and said pair of second clamping arms on the otherside of the mop, a lever pivotally connected to said first U- shapedconnection on said pair of first clamping arms and pivotable between alatched position thereof and an unlatched position thereof, and a latchon said other ends of said pair of second longitudinally extendingclamping arms and cooperating with said lever to maintain said lever inthe latched position thereof, said mop head having a web in the centerthereof adapted to fit between said lever and said second U-shapedconnections, whereby movement of said lever from the unlatched positionthereof to the latched position thereof provides movement of said pairof spaced-apart first longitudinally extending clamping arms and saidpair of spaced-apart second longitudinally extending clamping armsbetween the open position thereof and the clamping position thereoffirmly to clamp said mop head disposed therebetween.

17. The combination set forth in claim 16, wherein said web has twocut-outs so as to fit snugly between said lever and said second U-shapedconnection.

18. The combination set forth in claim 16, wherein said mop head hasdouble stitching along the juncture of said web and the shag of said mophead.

19. The combination set forth in claim 16, wherein said web has areduced thickness for the portion thereof fitting between said pairs offirst and second clamping arms.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTEHCATE OF CORRECTIGN Patent No. 3 688331 Dated September 5 197 Inventor(s) Julian l. Saltzstein It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 7, line 21, Claim l-after one insert --0f-;

Column 9, line 54, Claim 12 delete "an" and insert "extending".

Signed and sealed this 9th day of January 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCI IER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents ORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 uvs GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE: I969 0-366-334

1. A mop holder comprising a one-piece construction of a rod shaped toprovide a pair of first spaced-apart longitudinally extending clampingarms joined by a first U-shaped connection at one end thereof and a pairof second spaced-apart longitudinally extending clamping arms, each ofsaid first longitudinally extending clamping arms having at the otherend thereof a second U-shaped connection integral with one end of onesaid second longitudinally extending clamping arms, said pair of secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms extending in the same generaldirection from said second U-shaped connections as said pair of firstlongitudinally extending clamping arms, said onepiece construction beingresilient and accommodating movement of said pairs of first and secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms between an open position thereofwherein said first U-shaped connection is disposed away from the otherends of said second longitudinally extending arms and a clampingposition thereof wherein said first U-shaped connection is disposedtoward the other ends of said second longitudinally extending arms, saidpairs of first and second longitudinally extending clamping arms in theopen position thereof easily accommodating placement of a mop headtherebetween so as to position said pair of first clamping arms on oneside of the mop head and said pair of second clamping arms on the otherside of the mop head, a lever pivotally connected to said first U-shapedconnection on said pair of first clamping arms and pivotable between alatched position thereof, and an unlatched position thereof, and a latchon said other ends of said pair of second longitudinally extendingclamping arms and cooperating with said lever to maintain said lever inthe latched position thereof, whereby movement of said lever from theunlatched position thereof to the latched position thereof providesmovement of said pair of spaced-apart first longitudiNally extendingclamping arms and said pair of spaced-apart second longitudinallyextending clamping arms between the open position thereof and theclamping position thereof firmly to clamp the mop head disposedtherebetween.
 2. The mop holder set forth in claim 1, wherein said firstU-shaped connection joining said pair of first clamping arms is spacedfrom said other ends of said pair of second clamping arms a distancefarther than said other end of said pair of first clamping arms isspaced from said one end of said pair of second clamping arms when saidpairs of first and second longitudinally extending clamping arms are inthe open position thereof.
 3. The mop holder set forth in claim 1,wherein said pair of second clamping arms have means connected theretofor bearing against said lever during movement of said lever from theunlatched position to the latched position thereof.
 4. The mop holderset forth in claim 1, wherein said lever includes a short arm pivotallyconnected to said first U-shaped connection and a long arm extendingfrom said short arm, said long arm providing for increased mechanicaladvantage for said lever as said lever is moved from the unlatchedposition thereof to the latched position thereof.
 5. The mop holder setforth in claim 1, wherein said lever includes a notch therein forbearing against said latch when said lever is in the latched positionthereof to maintain said latch in the latched position thereof.
 6. Themop holder set forth in claim 1, wherein said lever has a handleattached to the end thereof.
 7. The mop holder set forth in claim 1,wherein the end of said lever away from the pivotal connection to saidfirst U-shaped connection is formed into a U-shaped handle to providefor easy movement of said lever between the unlatched position thereofand the latched position thereof.
 8. A mop holder comprising, aone-piece construction of a rod shaped to provide a pair of firstspaced-apart longitudinally extending clamping arms joined by a firstU-shaped connection at one end thereof and a pair of secondlongitudinally extending spaced-apart clamping arms and a pair of thirdspaced-apart longitudinally extending clamping arms, each of said firstlongitudinally extending clamping arms having at the other end thereof asecond U-shaped connection integral with one end of one of said secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms, said pair of secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms extending in the same generaldirection from said second U-shaped connections as said pair of firstlongitudinally extending clamping arms, each of said secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms having at the other end thereof athird U-shaped connection integral with one end of one of said thirdlongitudinally extending clamping arms, a portion of said pair of thirdlongitudinally extending clamping arms extending in a directionsubstantially normal to said pairs of first and second longitudinallyextending clamping arms, said one-piece construction being resilient andaccommodating movement of said pairs of first and second longitudinallyextending clamping arms between an open position thereof wherein saidfirst U-shaped connection is disposed away from the other ends of saidsecond longitudinally extending arms and a clamping position thereofwherein said first U-shaped connection is disposed toward the other endsof said second longitudinally extending arms, said pairs of first andsecond longitudinally extending clamping arms in the open positionthereof easily accommodating placement of a mop head therebetween so asto position said pair of first clamping arms on one side of the mop headand said pair of second clamping arms on the other side of the mop, saidpair of third longitudinally extending clamping arms being resilient andaccommodating movement between an open position thereof wherein the endsof said pair of third longitudinally extending clamping arms away fromsaid third U-shaped connections arE spaced apart and a closed positionthereof wherein said pair of third longitudinally extending clampingarms are disposed toward one another, said pair of third longitudinallyextending clamping arms in the open position thereof easilyaccommodating placement of a mop handle therebetween and in the closedposition thereof firmly holding the mop handle therebetween in aposition substantially normal to said pairs of first and secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms, a lever pivotally connected tosaid first U-shaped connection on said pair of first clamping arms andpivotable between a latched position thereof and an unlatched positionthereof, and a latch on said other ends of said pair of secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms and cooperating with said leverto maintain said lever in the latched position thereof, whereby movementof said lever from the unlatched position thereof to the latchedposition thereof provides movement of said pair of spaced-apart firstlongitudinally extending clamping arms and said pair of spaced-apartsecond longitudinally extending clamping arms between the open positionthereof and the clamping position thereof firmly to clamp the mop headdisposed therebetween.
 9. The mop holder set forth in claim 8, whereinsaid pair of third clamping arms diverge outwardly from said thirdU-shaped connections.
 10. The mop holder set forth in claim 8, whereinthe portion of said pair of third clamping arms disposed normally tosaid pairs of first and second clamping arms is resilient.
 11. The mopholder set forth in claim 8, wherein each of said third longitudinallyextending clamping arms extending normally to said pair of said firstand second clamping arms carries thereon a stud, said stud beingdisposed to cooperate with a casting shaped to support one end of themop handle, said casting having opposed outwardly extending portionseach of said portions having a longitudinal groove therein toaccommodate a respective one of said third longitudinally extendingclamping arms, each of said longitudinally extending grooves having anaperture to accommodate one of said studs and a sleeve having opposedbosses therein to fit over said casting and said pair of thirdlongitudinally extending clamping arms positioned in said grooves, so asfirmly to position the mop handle associated with said sleeve and saidcasting between said pair of third clamping arms in a positionsubstantially normal to said pair of first and second clamping arms. 12.A mop holder comprising a one-piece construction of a rod shaped toprovide a pair of first spaced-apart longitudinally extending clampingarms joined by a first U-shaped connection at one end thereof and a pairof second spaced-apart longitudinally extending clamping arms, each ofsaid first longitudinally an clamping arms having at the other endthereof a second U-shaped connection integral with one end of one ofsaid second longitudinally extending clamping arms, said pair of secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms extending in the same generaldirection from said second U-shaped connections as said pair of firstlongitudinally extending clamping arms, a plurality of support barsextending transversely of said pair of said second longitudinallyextending clamping arms and connecting the same with one of said supportbars interconnecting said pair of second longitudinally extendingclamping arms at the other ends thereof, said one-piece constructionbeing resilient and accommodating movement of said pairs of first andsecond longitudinally extending clamping arms between and open positionthereof wherein said first U-shaped connection is disposed away fromsaid other ends of said second longitudinally extending arms and aclamping position thereof wherein said first U-shaped connection isdisposed toward the other ends of said second longitudinally extendingarms, said pairs of first and second longitudinally extending clampingarms in the open position thereof easily accommodating plAcement of amop head therebetween so as to position said pair of first clamping armson one side of the mop head and said pair of second clamping arms on theother side of the mop, a lever pivotally connected to said firstU-shaped connection on said pair of first clamping arms and pivotablebetween a latched position thereof and an unlatched position thereof,and a latch coupled to said other ends of said pair of secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms and cooperating with said leverto maintain said lever in the latched position thereof, whereby movementof said lever from the unlatched position thereof against said supportbar at said other ends of said second longitudinally extending clampingarms to the latched position thereof provides movement of said pair ofspaced-apart first longitudinally extending clamping arms and said pairof spaced-apart second longitudinally extending clamping arms betweenthe open position thereof and the clamping position thereof firmly toclamp the mop head disposed therebetween.
 13. The mop holder set forthin claim 12, wherein each of said support bars is firmly welded to eachof said second clamping arms.
 14. The mop holder set forth in claim 12,wherein the one of said support bars interconnecting said pair of secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms at the other ends thereof acts asa fulcrum for said lever during the movement thereof between theunlatched position thereof and the latched position thereof.
 15. The mopholder set forth in claim 12, wherein the one of said support barsinterconnecting said pair of second longitudinally extending clampingarms at the other ends thereof is sinuously shaped and acts as a fulcrumfor said lever during the movement thereof between the unlatchedposition thereof and the latched position thereof.
 16. In combination amop head and a mop holder, said mop holder comprising, a one-piececonstruction of a rod shaped to provide a pair of first spaced-apartlongitudinally extending clamping arms joined by a first U-shapedconnection at one end thereof and a pair of second spaced-apartlongitudinally extending clamping arms, each of said firstlongitudinally extending clamping arms having at the other end thereof asecond U-shaped connection integral with one end of one of said secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms, said pair of secondlongitudinally extending clamping arms extending in the same generaldirection from said second U-shaped connections as said pair of firstlongitudinally extending clamping arms, said one-piece constructionbeing resilient and accommodating movement of said pairs of first andsecond longitudinally extending clamping arms between an open positionthereof wherein said first U-shaped connection is disposed away from theother ends of said second longitudinally extending arms and a clampingposition thereof wherein said first U-shaped connection is disposedtoward the other ends of said second longitudinally extending arms, saidpairs of first and second longitudinally extending clamping arms in theopen position thereof easily accommodating placement of said mop headtherebetween so as to position said pair of first clamping arms on oneside of the mop head and said pair of second clamping arms on the otherside of the mop, a lever pivotally connected to said first U-shapedconnection on said pair of first clamping arms and pivotable between alatched position thereof and an unlatched position thereof, and a latchon said other ends of said pair of second longitudinally extendingclamping arms and cooperating with said lever to maintain said lever inthe latched position thereof, said mop head having a web in the centerthereof adapted to fit between said lever and said second U-shapedconnections, whereby movement of said lever from the unlatched positionthereof to the latched position thereof provides movement of said pairof spaced-apart first longitudinally extending clamping arms and saidpair of spaced-apart second lonGitudinally extending clamping armsbetween the open position thereof and the clamping position thereoffirmly to clamp said mop head disposed therebetween.
 17. The combinationset forth in claim 16, wherein said web has two cut-outs so as to fitsnugly between said lever and said second U-shaped connection.
 18. Thecombination set forth in claim 16, wherein said mop head has doublestitching along the juncture of said web and the shag of said mop head.19. The combination set forth in claim 16, wherein said web has areduced thickness for the portion thereof fitting between said pairs offirst and second clamping arms.